Havana Blues

Crumbling pastel-colored facades line its streets, parked vintage cars evoke times past, live music permeates theair. Welcome to Havana, home to an overwhelming energy. Situated along the Straits of Florida, the capital of Cubahas been through several identities: Spanish colonial settlement, mobster rule in the 1930s, glamour of the 1950s,Cuban revolution and, most recently, a cultural renaissance. Havana’s bold, provocative approach to art, cuisine andentertainment—as well as the eclectic blend of African, French, Spanish and North American influences—includingits range of architecture styles from the sixteenth century to the modern day, confer this epic city with a legendarystatus on par with the world’s greatest cities. While some of the building are in disrepair, the beauty of the baroque,neoclassical and art deco features triumphs. The iconic Copa Room cabaret that hosted Ginger Rogers and Abbottand Costello still stands. The Gran Teatro de la Habana, built in the early twentieth century, is now home to theCuban National Ballet. Habana Vieja is undergoing a massive restoration to its former glory. Havana could be seenas a work-in-progress, but it is more a testament to its never-ending determination to improve and progress, whichmight be the allure that attracts so many visitors.